THE GOLD COAST REGT..

[Mervyn Mitton]

Britain - particularly in the 19th. Century - had great experience in managing new Colonies. The first thing we always did, was to raise local troops and constabulary. The reason for this is very simple - in 1800 the population of Britain was approx. 15,000,000 - and whilst we could supply the Govt. ministers and administrators, we did not have sufficient troops to man all of these areas. The one exception was India - where we did maintain quite a large European Force.

The Gold Coast - part of the West African territories that included Sierra Leone and Ghana - was originally the Coast that slaves were taken to from the inland areas and then transhipped to the US and the Caribbean and also, South America. Surface gold was always plentiful and eventually gave it's name to the original Colony. The other famous gold bearing area was Guinea - and if I remember correctly, this is where the British Guinea was named from.

These three old photgraphs - dating from 1920 - were in a mislaid envelope, which has just 'surfaced' - there are also some earlier ones from Bechuanaland, (now Botswana) however, I will keep them separate.

In 1879 the Colonial Govt. established the Gold Coast Constabulary. They were mostly Hausa tribesmen, who are a natural warrior tribe and proved to be excellent for the job. In 1901 they were changed into the Gold Coast Regt. and were quickly used in some of the trouble spots that existed at that time in West Africa. During the first World War they raised 5 Battalions to fight in the East African campaigns.

During WW2 9 Bns. were raisd to fight in Kenya, Italian Somaliland, Abysinnia and also, Burma.

Ghana became Independent in 1957 under the notorious Kwame Nkrumah - who nearly bankrupted the Country. During 1959 the their name was changed to the Ghana Regiment and they became the main home defence unit. They also withdrew from the West Africa Frontier Force - a unit from several different countries , formed to protect the area. Today thay have 6 Bns..

[Mervyn Mitton]

Thhe upper picture shows all of 'C' Company. This photo is probably for the musketry team - with their officers.

[Mervyn Mitton]

I am assuming that this picture shows 'C' Company's white officers. However, there seems to be more then compliment - perhaps some Regt. Officer's were included ?

[Harry Fecitt]

From my collection

[Archer]

assuming that this picture shows 'C' Company's white officers. However, there seems to be more then compliment - perhaps some Regt. Officer's were included ?

Typically, the establishment of "white" officers in a Colonial Battalion would be smaller than the establishment of officers in a Regular Army Battalion - so it's more likely these are the regimental officers present on the station when the photograph was taken.

[Harry Fecitt]

The reverse of the card in

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